What Are You Reading Now...? II

[akv]

The Long Arms by Michael Kanaly.

A novel about early humans told from the perspective of an old Neanderthal hunter. It describes in visceral detail the trials and tribulations of prehistoric life. The story tells how the initial co-existence between a Neanderthal tribe and their Cro Magnon neighbors (The Long Arms) evolved into all out war over hunting resources and cultural differences. I really enjoyed it.

[Streck-Fu]

Undaunted Courage- Stephen Ambrose.

[Flagg]

Finished David Kilcullen's "Out of the Mountains".

I would recommend it, even for those on the forum with a broad and deep knowledge base of irregular warfare.

4 major themes:

Population growth
Mass urbanization
Littoralization
Connectivity

The way I perceive it is Kilcullen is trying to set himself up as a 21st century megaslum city planner in a world he envisions to be something along the lines of Gangs of New York, meets Mogadishu, mixed with BladeRunner.

[JumpingIowa]

Ive been reading Chosen Soldier by Dick Couch. Its a really interesting look into the SFAS process and the Q course. I haven't finished it yet so I cant speak as to the later parts of the course but it is a really interesting read.

[Toaster]

Recently finished The Gun by C.J. Chivers, great book on the AK

Just finished "Living with Honor" by Salvatore Giunta
Great read, incredibly honest, graphic to the point of conveying the point, not to excess. I think he did an adequate job explaining military terminology and lifestyle to civilians so they can understand. Probably won't ever ask the wife to read it.

[Stiletto11]

Just started Disinformation by Lt Gen Ion Mihai Pacepa

[ZonieDiver]

"The Guns At Last Light" by Rick Atkinson. 3rd in his series. Excellent, so far.

[MtnGoat]

Social Network Analysis for Startups: Finding connections on the social web
By Maksim Tsvetovat and Alexander Kouznetsov

http://books.google.com/books?id=Tn-...ed=0CBoQ6AEwBQ

https://github.com/maksim2042/SNABook

I posted this same review in the 18F thread so it can be found easier. Great book that is well thought out and is useful both as an overview of network analysis and as a practical application of Social Networks' Analysis methodology. Great book covering introduction of Social Network Analysis in very simple language. Book not only talks methodology but also give hands on practice sessions on the concepts using Python code. Which I don't have a great understanding on and wished the Authors used NetworkX or some kind of AnB chart linkage chart or other diagram to show the code. But if you understand how to tweek Twitter API, then you will grasp the Python code. But the overall book is extremely detailed and nicely done in the principles for conducting social network analysis (SNA). The applications are tangible and well-explained for beginners. There is a learning involved in this analysis field, but it's worth the persistence in learning. The one "thing" I like about this book is it opens your thinking that SNA isn't just about Facebook or Twitter, it's about how people are a network and how they tie together. Book covers how to recognize online com- munities, and study the anatomy of those social communities and how they use a viral video or get a flashmob going or planned. If you see a need for looking at social media networks, then I say you should look at this book.

Okay so I liked this first book so will started reading the follow up book:

Mining the Social Web: Data Mining Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, GitHub, and More
Matthew A. Russell

http://ftp.newtek.com/pub/reads/Mini...atthew%20A.pdf

A basic put-out PDF file from the book, "Weird scenes inside Laurel Canyon". It is from what I understand to be the pre-book format for the previously mentioned book. This book entails a fascinating look at the spooky an surreal happenings in the late 1950's and throughout the 1960's of some bands and members of bands and how they all came to Laurel Canyon to write music, play, and sing music under very suspicious circumstances. Some of the people mentioned here, albeit, most of, were strange in their own right or were victims of somebody in their family who committed suicide whether it was on purpose and/or they had assistance. ( my meaning here is the old adage of "He/She committed suicide by shooting themselves three times in the head."):

-The Byrds
-Three Dog Night,
-Jackson Browne
-Dennis Hopper
-Jack Nicholson
-Peter Fonda
-Henry Fonda
-Harry Houldinin
-Carole King
-Joni Mitchell
-David Crosby
-Stephen Stills
-The Monkeys
-Frank Zappa
-Joan Baez
-Beach Boys, especially Brian Wison
-Art Linkletter
-Jay Sebring

and the list goes on and on.

But as you read this PDF version here you will find one person who was a friend with all of the above and the rest of the names. He was considered by most in the beginnings as an awesomely gifted, musician, songwriter, and guitar player by all who lived there. He is the glue on which Laurel Canyon stayed together. His name is.........Charles Manson.

Here it is for all to read:

www.conspirazzi.com/e-books/inside-the-lc.pdf

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by MAB32

-Art Linkletter

THE spookiest...

[Dusty]

This thread slipped my mind.

"Guests of the Ayatollah" by Mark Bowden.

Everybody under 40 should read this book, IMO.

Originally Posted by Dusty

THE spookiest...

Oh, it gets better with the names of people mentioned. Art Lost a daughter who hung around in Laurel Canyon with these folks. She jumped out her 6th floor apartment under some very bizarre circumstances according to witnesses.

You'll find allot of these people came from family who were involved in military intelligence during WWII and after.

John Phillips from the Mamas and the Papas was a notorious woman beater, heavy drinker and LSD user who got his own daughter pregnant through an incestuous affair. Manson was considered to be one heck of nice guy and a joy to be around until 1968. His "crew so-to-speak" were all staying in Laurel Canyon frequently before that year. Some were guests of Peter Tork (The Monkeys), Frank Zappa, Cass Elliot (She is a very spooky dude, I mean dudette). And the hits just keep coming...

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by MAB32

Oh, it gets better with the names of people mentioned. Art Lost a daughter who hung around in Laurel Canyon with these folks. She jumped out her 6th floor apartment under some very bizarre circumstances according to witnesses.

You'll find allot of these people came from family who were involved in military intelligence during WWII and after.

John Phillips from the Mamas and the Papas was a notorious woman beater, heavy drinker and LSD user who got his own daughter pregnant through an incestuous affair. Manson was considered to be one heck of nice guy and a joy to be around until 1968. His "crew so-to-speak" were all staying in Laurel Canyon frequently before that year. Some were guests of Peter Tork (The Monkeys), Frank Zappa, Cass Elliot (She is a very spooky dude, I mean dudette). And the hits just keep coming...

Probably just a bad batch of acid.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Probably just a bad batch of acid.

You beat me to it.

TR

Was there ever a "good" batch...